Bing Lee signs digital radio offering

IT and electrical goods retailer Bing Lee has signed up to host a digital radio display for customers at its Sydney Skygarden store from 9 December.

Joan Warner, chief executive officer at industry body Commercial Radio Australia, said Commercial Radio Australia has signed a deal with Bing Lee to help boost awareness of digital radio, which is a relatively new technology to the Australian market.

“The support of a major retailer such as Bing Lee will provide a central location for consumers to find out more about digital radio,” she said.

Bing Lee had more than 26 stores in Sydney. The digital radio centre would open at Bing Lee’s Sydney Skygarden store in Castlereagh Street on 9 December, she said.

Previously, a digital radio display was located at a Domayne and a Harvey Norman outlet, Warner said.

Bing Lee would also sell products on consignment from Sangean, Pure Digital and Bush to customers aware of current broadcasting limitations but still keen to be early adopters, she added.

An in-car receiver from Revo would soon be added to the display, she said.

Commercial Radio Australia had been promoting the introduction of digital radio in Australia, supporting Digital Radio Australia’s ongoing technical and consumer trial that started in December 2003, she said.

Promoters of digital radio claim that it offers CD-quality sound. Features may include LCD screens with scrolling text – showing track titles or news headlines – and the ability to pause, rewind and digitally record live radio.

Digital radio broadcasting began in several countries overseas some years ago. UK commercial radio stations began broadcasting in digital in 1999 and digital radio is expected to reach 29 percent of UK homes by 2008.